>> well, 18 months ago we were going to miss nfl preseason games and it was a national catastrophe. it's great there's going to be hockey, but i think the fact that the public wasn't exactly clamoring for this should be pretty problematic for the leagues. good it's a season but a shortened season but you wish it hadn't come to this. >> john wertheim from "sports illustrated," thanks so much. always appreciate your insights. >>> quick, what's the one phrase you hope you never hear again. if you said fiscal cliff you're not alone. we'll take a look at some of the wonky metaphors associated with the battle in washington. >>> my guess is you are pretty psyched that you're not going to be hearing the term fiscal cliff anymore, right? you know, that's the phrase that swept the nation's capitol and airwaves over the last few months. it seemed the more arcane and wonky the budget mess got, the more washington reached to try to explain it. cnn's christine romans has more. >> reporter: just like the yodeler in that cliff hangers game on the price is right, we did fall off a cliff. of a metaph